"Let's Put Out the Lights" (Rudy Vallee, 1932)

Rudy Vallee's radio sign-off theme--Vermonter Rudy Vallee with his Connecticut Yankees in the jovial Hupfeld number, "Let's Put Out the Lights and Go to Bed".

LET'S PUT OUT THE LIGHTS (AND GO TO BED)

Didn't we have a lovely evening?
Our party was a great success!
Oh, didn't Mrs. Smith look stunning?
Did you notice Mrs. Jones's new dress?

What did Mr. Brown say to Uncle Benny?
Just one of those things, he'd had a few too many.

Sure was a hungry crowd,
They didn't leave a scrap for Rover,
We ought to feel real proud,
I'm mighty glad the darn thing's over!

(Please go 'way and let me sleep!)

No more company to feed,
No more papers left to read,
So, what's to do about it?
Let's put out the lights and go to bed.

No more anything to drink,
Leave those dishes in the sink,
What's to do about it?
Whisper "nighty-night" and so to bed.

You're waiting now for me to say,
"I love you more and more and more, dear.
You're looking younger every day,
You never were so sweet before, dear".

No more money in the bank,
No cute baby we can spank,
So, what's to do about it?
Let's put out the lights and go to bed.

(Recitative)

You're waiting now for me to say,
"I loves ya more and more and more, dear.
You're looking younger every day,
You never were so sweet before, dear".

No more money in the bank,
No cute baby we can spank,
So, what's to do about it?
Let's put out the lights and go to bed.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Rudy Vallee
• Vermonter
• 1932
• Hupfeld
• Let's put out the lights

[fromthesidelines]

I'm surprised you didn't about that, 'RReady'. My pleasure...

[RReady555]

Glad to have my horizons broadened, friend! ;)

Best,

-RR

[fromthesidelines]

This was recorded in September 1932; soon after, radio stations would not play the record because it used the term, "Let's...go to bed", and NBC would not allow Rudy to perform that song that way on his "FLEISCHMANN'S YEAST HOUR". The title and lyrics had to be altered to "Let's Put Out The Lights And Go To SLEEP". And that's way it's been performed since...

[RReady555]

Thanks for the information--looks as if the "Hays Code" hit radio before motion pictures...

Best,

-RR

[genia106]

Delightful!

Thank you so much!

[RReady555]

I threatened you that I'd post more Rudy. I may yet go on a Vallee rally... ;)

[MisterEvasion]

A Rudy Vallee song can brighten your day. I pity those who are ignorant of this unique period of music from the late 20s and early 30s.

[wa65536]

I just love Rudy's voice. He was so smooth and enchanting.

[DOCTOROCTAGONAPUSS]

anyone else feel a "fallout 3" aura from this XD

[Crockerish]

I would like to hear this song by my favorite Guy,Guy Lombardo.

[lobo81865]

I like Ben Bernie's version as well.

[chem100]

Shades of the Great Depression. The lyrics can be allegorical as well.

[wahoo76]

Please don't forget Russ Columbo! The song "Crosby, Columbo and Vallee" was written by Al Dubin & Joseph Burke about our three greatest crooners. The song was immortalized in a Warner Bros. Merrie Melodies cartoon of the same name in 1932.

[FreemanZee]

This got me to thinking... there are many songs (like Shaving Crem, for instance,) in which the obvious rhyming "dirty" word is awkwardly replaced with one, often less lyrical or non-rhyming "clean" one. (Notice that "Sleep" is not particularly singable here.)

So, perhaps that form of song evolved as a spoof on this sort of Ed Sullivan meets the Stones (or Pelvis) factor.

[ysbaddaden2003]

Shades of Let's Spend the Night Together.

Ed Sullivan would get his pinafores in a twist.

[stlgtrace]

A very sweet song and just a little bit naughty!